Published: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 10:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 10:56 p.m.

Home and business owners in the Ogden and Porters Neck areas got a chance Wednesday to learn about a proposed big-box shopping center and to voice their opinions about the planned development at 8107 Market St.

Paramount Development Corp. held an open house at the Northeast Regional Library to showcase its plans to build about 245,000 square feet of retail space on a combination of two properties totaling about 44 acres.

Paramount, of Myrtle Beach, is under contract to buy the two tracts. The 28.77-acre parcel that fronts on Market Street does not need to be rezoned for commercial uses. The 15.91-acre tract to the rear, however, would have to be rezoned from residential.

Paramount’s senior real estate manager, David Harner, said earlier this month that he hopes to have plans submitted to the county in time for the May Planning Board meeting, or April 4.

Paramount displayed diagrams of the center’s layout – a big box store with four other retail buildings and three other outlying buildings marked on the plans for use as restaurants.

Aerial photos showed the site’s relationship to busy Market Street and to the neighboring residential neighborhoods, including Country Haven, which borders directly on three retention ponds at the back of the proposed store.

Residents of that subdivision who were interviewed all expressed doubts about the project, which could attract a Walmart or similar store. Some were strongly against the development.

Matt Wild, Ken Pearson and Kelly Hodges are next-door neighbors in Country Haven and had nothing positive to say about the development.

“I think it’s a negative thing that’s happening to the people who live in that area,” Wild said. “I live in a home that would back up to the proposed development. We don’t want it to be a Walmart haven.

“The obvious things are the potential for hearing trucks loading late at night, light filtering through at night.”

“A 24-hour shopping center has the potential for increasing crime,” said Pearson.

“If you aren’t on Market before 7:45 or after 9 it’s gridlock,” Hodges said.

Virginia Teachey of Porters Neck complained that the “traffic is going to be horrendous....

“You can get into establishments but getting out they are going to have to change the traffic patterns.”

The good side, Teachey said, is that she’ll be closer to shopping without having to go farther into town.

Others also were positive about the development.

Rebecca Humphrey, who works at the State Employees Credit Union, which sits in the middle of the development site, was “happy about it as long as there is a traffic light.” One is planned, according to the site plan.

The Odgen resident is hoping for more restaurants in the area.

Ogden business owner Lloyd Brinkley thought that a growing Ogden area needs more facilities. He said he sees traffic on Market diminishing after the Military Cutoff Extension to the U.S. 17 bypass is built.

Brinkley also said the area “needs more businesses oriented toward the residents” like restaurants and that would eliminate the need to drive down Market for those services.

Debra Bartlett of Country Haven said her biggest concern is “that we live right on top of this development ... and so our key concern is with noise and crime and safety and also our property values.

“That’s why we are here. We just want clear answers.”

There will be another open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road.

<p>Home and business owners in the Ogden and Porters Neck areas got a chance Wednesday to learn about a proposed big-box shopping center and to voice their opinions about the planned development at 8107 Market St.</p><p>Paramount Development Corp. held an open house at the Northeast Regional Library to showcase its plans to build about 245,000 square feet of retail space on a combination of two properties totaling about 44 acres.</p><p>Paramount, of Myrtle Beach, is under contract to buy the two tracts. The 28.77-acre parcel that fronts on Market Street does not need to be rezoned for commercial uses. The 15.91-acre tract to the rear, however, would have to be rezoned from residential.</p><p>Paramount's senior real estate manager, David Harner, said earlier this month that he hopes to have plans submitted to the county in time for the May Planning Board meeting, or April 4.</p><p>Paramount displayed diagrams of the center's layout – a big box store with four other retail buildings and three other outlying buildings marked on the plans for use as restaurants.</p><p>Aerial photos showed the site's relationship to busy Market Street and to the neighboring residential neighborhoods, including Country Haven, which borders directly on three retention ponds at the back of the proposed store.</p><p>Residents of that subdivision who were interviewed all expressed doubts about the project, which could attract a Walmart or similar store. Some were strongly against the development.</p><p>Matt Wild, Ken Pearson and Kelly Hodges are next-door neighbors in Country Haven and had nothing positive to say about the development.</p><p>“I think it's a negative thing that's happening to the people who live in that area,” Wild said. “I live in a home that would back up to the proposed development. We don't want it to be a Walmart haven.</p><p>“The obvious things are the potential for hearing trucks loading late at night, light filtering through at night.”</p><p>“A 24-hour shopping center has the potential for increasing crime,” said Pearson. </p><p>All three men cited traffic.</p><p>“The traffic is going to increase significantly with 24-hour shopping there,” Pearson said.</p><p>“If you aren't on Market before 7:45 or after 9 it's gridlock,” Hodges said.</p><p>Virginia Teachey of Porters Neck complained that the “traffic is going to be horrendous.... </p><p>“You can get into establishments but getting out they are going to have to change the traffic patterns.”</p><p>The good side, Teachey said, is that she'll be closer to shopping without having to go farther into town.</p><p>Others also were positive about the development.</p><p>Rebecca Humphrey, who works at the State Employees Credit Union, which sits in the middle of the development site, was “happy about it as long as there is a traffic light.” One is planned, according to the site plan. </p><p>The Odgen resident is hoping for more restaurants in the area. </p><p>Ogden business owner Lloyd Brinkley thought that a growing Ogden area needs more facilities. He said he sees traffic on Market diminishing after the Military Cutoff Extension to the U.S. 17 bypass is built.</p><p>Brinkley also said the area “needs more businesses oriented toward the residents” like restaurants and that would eliminate the need to drive down Market for those services.</p><p>Debra Bartlett of Country Haven said her biggest concern is “that we live right on top of this development ... and so our key concern is with noise and crime and safety and also our property values.</p><p>“That's why we are here. We just want clear answers.”</p><p>There will be another open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road.</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic99"><b>Wayne Faulkner</b></a>: 343-2329</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @bizniznews</p>